Anti-nuclear weapons monument

About this artwork.

This work by Hugo Hol is the first monument in the Netherlands erected in protest against the nuclear arms race. 
 
In the 1980s, the debate on nuclear weapons and nuclear energy was particularly topical and fierce. In December 1982, the city council of Groningen voted in favour of a motion by the PvdA to create a protest monument. At the time, the Board consisted of a coalition of CDA and PvdA. Almost three years later, on 1 November 1985 at the symbolic time of five minutes to twelve, the statue was handed over to the then mayor. That same day, the Council of Ministers debated a proposal to place 48 cruise missiles in Woensdrecht. The Lubbers cabinet decided in favour of the placement, but in the end it did not go ahead. 
 
The sculpture by Hol consists of a cube frame of dented and crenelated brass containing a smaller cube of black Belgian bluestone. With this work, the artist wants to give an abstract representation of the problem of nuclear armament. He does this by showing an opposition of two geometric forms. The battered brass frame symbolises the imperfection of man-made society. The black cube stands for the originally pristine nature. In the interaction between these two forces, Hugo Hol sees the basis for both progress and the imminent destruction of the earth.

Facts & Figures.

• Design
  Hugo Hol

• District
  Centrum

• Year of creation
  1985

• Art type
  Monument

• Material
  Bluestone, Messing

• Dimensions
  h 2,25 x b 2,25 x d 2,25 m